Nagarjuna-Ram Gopal Varma’s cult classic ‘Siva’ to re-release in cinemas; teaser to be attached with Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’

More than three decades later, one of the greatest Indian films of all time is set to make history once again. Nagarjuna and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma have announced that they are bringing their groundbreaking action crime drama Siva back to the big screen in a grand re-release.

Thirty-six years ago, Annapurna Studios’ cult production Siva redefined cinema with its intensity and realistic action sequences, which had never been seen before. It shattered box office records while receiving tremendous critical acclaim. Now, on the occasion of the 50th year anniversary of the studio, the iconic 1989 film – which marked Varma’s trailblazing directorial debut – is set to hit theatres once again. The sound of Siva has been completely redone from the original mono mix to Dolby Atmos for the first time ever using the latest and most advanced AI engineering technologies.

Backed by producers Akkineni Venkat and Yarlagadda Surendra, the film delivered a gripping portrayal of students being exploited by anti-social elements, drawing from Varma’s own experiences as a student in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, which he wove into the script.

Speaking about this historic re-release, legendary actor Akkineni Nagarjuna said, “Siva was the film that gave me an iconic hero status, making my character truly unforgettable. The fact that it remains one of the most talked-about films even after 36 years motivated my brother Venkat Akkineni and me to plan its re-release in the grandest way possible. We felt we owed it to the audience who made it such a cult classic, and also to a new generation who may have only seen it on YouTube. So RGV, Venkat, and I decided to present it once again to audiences with an unprecedented DOLBY Atmos sound experience and 4K visuals.”

Director Ram Gopal Varma added, “Nagarjuna’s and the producers’ trust in me is what helped the film reach such great heights. It’s unbelievable that even today, people remember every scene and character. Annapurna Studios’ decision to re-release it has truly thrilled me. Although the original sound was highly appreciated, it was decided to redo it entirely to match today’s standards. By using advanced AI technology, we have converted the original mono mix to Dolby Atmos. People might have seen Siva before, but I promise no one has experienced it the way they will now, with its new sound.”

With music by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, Siva also starred Amala and Raghuvaran. In 1990, the film was remade in Hindi as Shiva, with the actors reprising their roles. Apart from its enormous box office success, Siva was also featured in the Indian Panorama mainstream section of the 13th IFFI (1990) and won three Nandi Awards: Best Director (Varma), Best First Film of a Director, and Best Dialogue Writer for Tanikella Bharani.